Adolescents, Their Parents and Society

Adolescence is the period of growing up. It is that stage in every person’s life that lies between the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood.

Puberty is a narrow span of time which marks the beginning of sexual maturation. Puberty occurs usually a little before the mid-point of adolescence.

An Adolescent is, therefore, a boy or a girl that is passing through the adolescence period. The adolescence period is marked with body and emotional changes. The period generally ranges from ten to twelve years. It, however, varies in length from family to family, from one socio-economic level to another and from culture to culture.

Adolescence in girls is characterized by the following:

1. The female sex organs (the ovaries) produce hormones called estrogen and progesterone. These hormones work to cause different types of developmental changes in the girl.
2. The breasts develop and the girl’s skin changes.
3. Hair grows in her armpits and pubic region.
4. Menstruation starts. This results from the effects of hormones. The progesterone causes the uterus to produce an egg or an ovum. This egg can be fertilized by a male’s sperm to form a baby. If it is not fertilized, it dies and is released as menstruation.
5. There are also emotional changes. Some adolescents are moody, irritable and even anxious.

In boys adolescence is also characterized by:

1. Development of sex organs. Their sex glands, (the testicles) release hormones into the blood streams.
2. The hormones cause the muscles to develop.
3. They also grow facial and body hair.
4. The testicles also produce the male cells (spermatozoa or sperms).
5. There is also a change in voice and appearance.

The changes occurring during the adolescence period are accompanied by rapid growth in height and weight. Girls generally attain the adolescence age before boys. During this period, children need balanced meals for physical growth. They also need to be carefully handled by their parents, as they try to adjust to the changes they are experiencing.

Problems of Adolescents

The adolescent is neither a child nor an adult. He has some needs and problems which affect his relationships with his parents and others.

1. Adjustment: The adolescent is always faced with the problem of adjusting to his physical changes. The girl has to cope with the developing breasts and menstruation. The boy has to cope with a changed voice, a bigger penis and testicles and the discharge of semen. These changes make some adolescents moody, anxious, clumsy and uncomfortable. Their parents need to reassure them.
2. Status: He wants to be important and be recognized as a person of worth. He tries to achieve adult status, but he is not yet an adult. For instance, it is not  uncommon to see adolescent boys smoking and girls trying to put on make-up.
3. Independence: The adolescent tries to gain independence from his parents and to become a self-directing person. He wants his own room in the house where he can be free from the younger ones. He also wants to do his own things his own way. This is often a source of problem.
4. Need for Achievement: The adolescent strives to excel. Thus in school and at home he works hard to succeed. Where he fails, he becomes unhappy.
5. Need for a Satisfying Philosophy of Life: At this stage, the child also strives to understand the meaning of life. He is concerned with questions about truth, religion, and ideals.
6. Physical Needs: The above needs are the personality needs of the adolescent. He also needs balanced food. As the body develops, he might need new clothes, because he outgrows the old ones. It might not always be easy for parents to meet all their needs.

The Relationship Between the Adolescent and His Parents

The relationship between the adolescent and his parents can be viewed from two angles: